French journos roughed up in Chennai

Chennai: A journalist with the French daily Le Monde was detained after being allegedly roughed up by CISF personnel at the city airport for lighting a cigarette inside the premises on Wednesday.

The CISF later gave a CD of the incident to the Chennai Police. The French Consul General has also given a letter of regret to CISF and requested the paramilitary force to release of the passport of French journalist.

Airport sources said the incident occurred when Serjugi Geizaulks, along with his journalist wife Flora, had completed formalities and were waiting to board a Lufthansa flight to Paris at around 0130 hrs (IST).

"Just before boarding I wanted to smoke and lit acigarette. But suddenly this officer came and slapped me. Some others roughed me up and hit me on my legs," Geizaulks alleged.

The journalist claimed that there was no indication or notice regarding a ban on smoking inside the airport.

CISF sources claimed it was Geizaulks who "assaulted" personnel on duty and not the other way around.

"We dont want to say anything further," they said. According to airport sources, more CISF personnel rushed to the spot on witnessing the commotion, apparently thinking Geizaulks was a terrorist.

On being detained, the journalist called up the French Embassy in New Delhi which in turn sought the intervention of officials from the Airport Authority of India. Serjugi Geizaulks and his wife were later left with the airport duty manager.

Geizaulks claimed that their passports have been withheld by CISF officials and said he hoped to be able to leave the city by Thursday's flight.

"We are not terrorists. We are only travelling. Coming to India is always beautiful for me and I am aware of its tolerance and kindness," Geizaulks said.

"Today's is a very stupid situation," he added.

Flora, who also works with Le Monde, said that they were in India on holiday and had spent almost a month visiting places in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

"I travel a lot in India and have been doing so for the last 20 years. Serjugi Geizaulks is a famous journalist in France and also a musician. We never thought this would happen to us," she said.

Flora said her husband had even given a concert in Chennai three years ago under the aegis of Alliance Francaise.

Meanwhile, the French Embassy in Delhi has refused to comment terming the incident a private matter.

(With inputs from PTI)